Bending apparatus



Aug. 20, 1946; A. H. zl-:rrz 2,406,182

BENDING APPARATUS Aug. 20, 1946.v A. H. zl-:l'rz

' BENDING APPARATUS FiledA Sept. l1, 1945 VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ArropME-w.

Aug. 20, 1946. A. H. zElTz BENDING APPARATUS Fild sept. 11', 1945 3 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Aug. 20, 1946 BENDmG APPARATUS Arthur H. Zeitz, Kansas City, Mo., assignor of onehalf to Charles S. Foreman, Kansas City, M0.

Application September 11, 1943, Serial No. 501,965 Y This invention relates to bending apparatus andmore particularly to a bending machine for curving large pipes near their point of,` installation, and has for its principalobject to bend pipe sections in apredetermined geometric curve.

In the construction of pipe lines, for example oil and gas pipe lines, it is necessary to bend the pipe sections to t the contour of the ground Where the line is laid. Due to ythe fact that it is difficult to handle and transport large pipe sections, particularly after they are curved, it is desirable that the sections be bent in the field near their point of use.V The walls of suchpipe are Vrelatively thin and will therefore buckle easily requiring long gradual curves and extreme care in the bending operation.

It has been found that in bending large size steel pipe which have relatively thin side walls that all portions of the pipe must be bent simultaneously by a constant, slowly and evenly applied pressure to prevent buckling,l also the more bucks used the less the chance of buckling the pipe.

Other objects of the present invention are therefore to provide a portable pipe bending ma- 6 claims. (C1. 153-32) chine; to provide a device adaptable for bending I different diameters of pipes; to provide a bending machine with a plurality of simultaneously movable bending bucks; to provide for moving the bucks at a predetermined speed ratio for effecting a simultaneous even pressure throughout the length of the pipe being bent; to provide a machine with pivotally mounted bucks for changing the angle of contact between the bucks and pipe as saidpipe isbent; to provide a central power device for applying power for moving the bucks to bend the pipe; to provide a plurality of inter-connected speedreducers for transmitting power to the respective bucks; ,-to provide for moving each buck with an individual. screw; to provide the screws for the respective bucks with threads having different leads for moving said bucks at different speed ratiosyto provide the screws with threads the leads of which are related to provide relative speed ratios of the bucks to form the pipe in a predetermined curve; to provide an efficient, compact, and sturdy device for bending pipe; and to provide structuralelements and arrangements thereof in a device of the character and for the purpose set forth.

In accomplishing -these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is .illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Fig.V 1 is a plan view of a bending apparatus embodying my invention,fportions of the top plate being broken away to better illustrate the drives for the respective buck operating screws.

Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view of the top of the machines, particularly illustrating one of the bending bucks. f

Fig. 3 is a detail transverse sectional view on the line 3 3, Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a detail transverse sectional view on the line 4 4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail -longitudinal sectional view on the line 5 5, Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through one of the bending buck guides.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view on the line 1 1, Fig. 1, particularly illustrating the drive for the bending bucks.

Referring more in detail to the drawings wherein: A

I designates a pipe bending machine preferably supported on sills 2 and 3 extending longitudinally of the machine. Themachine may be fixed on a permanent foundation, however, I prefer to make said machines portable vby mounting the sills 2 and 3 on a frame 4 of a conventional trailer 5the frame 4 being resiliently supported by springs 6 on axles 1 which are carried by wheels 8. The trailer may be of conventional structure and forms no part of the present invention other than serving to provide portability thereto.

Mounted on the sills 2 and 3, and preferably transversely thereof, are a plurality of spaced guide tracks 9, I0, II, I2, I3,.I4, I5, I6, and I1, said tracks preferably being spaced equally distant along said sills and preferably being of odd numbenwhereby the central track I3 is located midway between the tracks 9 and I 1 which are adjacent the ends of the sills. The tracks preferably consist of spaced channel members I8 and I9Y having vertically arranged web portions 20 and upper and lower laterally extending flanges 2I and 22, the lower flanges 22 preferably being mounted on Vand secured to a plate 23 which is secured to the upper flange 24 of the sills 2 and 3. The flanges 2| and 22 extend inwardly of the tracks and their inner edges 25 are spaced to provide a slot 26 `therebetween for a purpose later described. A plate 21 extends over the track members 9 to I1 inclusive, for forming a .nooring or work surface 28, the plate 21 being carried by the flanges 2l of the channels forming the track members Sto I1 and is secured thereto as by welding or the like. The platesV 23 and.A

l `threaded'"recesses 99", in theV nuts 54.

to the outer faces of the channel Web members as at 34. Mounted on the plate 30, are horizont tallyarranged I beams 35 andg39, flangesyS-lfad-k' jacent the plate 39 being secured thereto by Y means or welding or the like as'at' 38'!whereby;thet

99, said gusset plates preferably being welded to the plates 59 and 61 and arranged on the side of the plates El' toward the hand-wheels whereby the'faces 69 of said plates 67 'are toward the pipe 'i9 to be bent. Y

In order to adapt the bucks to the respective pipe size to be bent, pipe cradles "H are mounted on the respective plates 59 in engagement with the'plat'es 93. The cra-dl'esi'll"preferably(V consist of laterally and vertically extending members 12 `and 'i3 arranged at right angles, as at 14, and 'adapted to carry curved plates i5 which are of thesame curvature as the pipe 10. The lower ends of the curved portions 15 are arranged horiwebs 39 and 99 of the respectiverlt:l beams-formv 59 by means o f cap-screws 7l, the upper ends of the curved plates l5 being connected, asV at '18, with horizontal members i9 whichare secured the upper and lower walls ,ofgthe box` ygirder 29;A

thek outer wall Vbeing formed bya plate 4I secured to the flanges 42 of the respective IV beams;A Not .Y Y only does this structurev form a housing but alsoA rigidly connects'the ends othetrack memberszto formf a1;-lrigidiibexfgirder;l 'lihef other; ends'of thetrackmembers areF connected by means oan I beam memberl 43: Securedto the lowersurfa'ce vo thepl'atev V23v` adjacent the ends: ofrthe respectivetrack 'members 9'c and I1' inclusive, whereby the housing 29, the I beam member' 43`and1tl'1e` sills 2l and13 form longitudinal members; through the apparatus which are each connected to Ythe channels i9 and? l 9i' of the respective track members 9 and'l'l inclusive formingiaf'ri'gid structure capable of 'withstandinghardusa'ge andi handling heavy pipe.

- In'the. ends'of each ofithetra'ckmembers 9fand Y Il, adjacent; the I; beam 43g are'Y thrust: bearings ikfor rotatablysupporting: shafts45 of screws 46 extending inwardly through?. the track members 9 and Il, the shafts 45 extending'v outwardly l' tl'iroiugh4 apertures 41T ini plates. 49T which-'fclose the ends Vof the 1track members to enclose the bearings as; VThe hand-wheels 4s: and: sul are rnduntedlcrr tlieouter ends ofthe shafts 455 in`l` the' tracks "9 and.: lilrespectively,r said wheels* be; ingvkeyed .te they shafts by: me'ans` of splines. 51 whereby operation 'of the hand-wheels rotate's'f thexscrews'in' the respectiveitrack'members. The' hubs f, 521er tlieI hand-wheels 49L and 5 91 engage" thejv outer vfazcerofcthe plate 48 toLcoop'e'rate-'with col?v larsY fonzthe screws 49S l'i'avir'i'gengagementwithv the inner'portionof? the bearingsl44' fio prevent! lateral*motion.ofztlie"screws:` ,Y

The screws 49 are threadedly engaged'witlfiu nuts'54 slidably mounted between the.' channelsy if and: l 9 of' the trackfmembers Sr'and l1; where-f by rotation of thel hand-wheels 49. and 59T? move.

the nuts: 5tl in saidltrack" membersv through en"- r gagementfof vthe thread. 55? ont the screw 49 withl internal threads 59 fini: the nuts 54'. Pivctally mounted, on the respectivenut's' 54'; are'bu'cks 5l#Y and' 591v whlich preferably' consist of.I feot plaiesl'` adapted to; restenV the faceV 281 of.4 the door v2 and beicennected to'. the nuts. by' means of' capscrews 69*extendingfthroughxapertures 6Fl in'the plates"Y Eilan'd Y into threaded' recesses 572i in the i nuts 543'."Y The.` screws 89 form' bearing' postsv oniv whichthefbucks.r 5l?" and ESI may pivot' as limited by' engagement of the end of slots 93 in the `plates 59;` spaced toward the hand-"wheels from: the aperturesv Bftinthe plates "andiy shanksfll of cap'- screws 95; the Shanks of which: are tlireacled'into Mounted on;V thefot plates- 59 adjacent the apertures 9T aref upwardly extending plates'- El which are preferably secured, asbyweldng-in upright pesi- Y noires meente-S159 and-Bracediby'gusseeplates yzojntally;vas-ati T6; and'adapted to rest on the 'platesf'FZi and be-secured therewith to the plates to the vertical plates 13, as at 89. The plates 13 rare preferably'secured to the.y plates 9T by means of cap-screws'or thel 1ike 81| extending; through; t

screws 97,98, 89599,', 9h92; and 93 respectivelyL Y The shafts extend throughV apertures 94 in the plate Sil'for connection with'gear reduction units' 95 mountedon the; plate 39l inside? of the', housing. 29.

The geary reductionunits 955 connected with'the` respective shaftsV 86rarerprefera-bly all of-thesame" type and'have" worm drive shafts 96 extentling:l

laterally of said gear reduction units and longi-g tudinallyof the bending apparatus.: Eachizoffthe gea-r reduction` units' preferably' havef their;v shafts- 99. connectedr by couplings-3:91'r to the adjacent`r reduction' unit. whereby all`A of the gearY reduction, units-are interconnected'v and'. are simultaneously operated'lby means of; ehain'drives 9.78 andf 99Ihave" i ingA drivingi engagement witlrsproeketsr m0: and.

l-llflVV arranged in spaced: relation onY` the: shafts.' 96 whereby the driving' torque:impartedy tolith'eishafts-'96' isidiv'ided .toreduce strain-ion.thespee'd;`

means-,ofsprockets H32 andi 92 mounted: orr stubil shafts |94,l rotatably. supported'. int Yb'e'aringsi H15. om the plate 39.; "ll'iestL-ibI shafts-|941 also carryg engagedA .by chains? VI II8=A andi i109? vsfhich are driven.;

ating over sprockets:y |.'|'3 on: at countersliatt"v ISI'Q-u said counter-shaft beingiY drivenfv bymeans ofi ai belti orother suitable'.v power:v transmission: mecha-fnism lli5' from a primemover; suchas ia-gas'oline engine'. l: lr6', which'. is suspended' byi means? ori arms i Y Whenthegasoline motororothe'r primemcversil is operated;v the. worm' Yshafts A99 arie-'rotated throughi the transmissionmechanismV just cle-A the screws 81 yand'93 inclusive are rotatedat the same speed as later described.

Each of the screws 81 and 93 -inclusive is provided With collars |20 adapted to engage the thrustv bearings 85 and cooperate with the gearl reduction units to prevent endwise movement of the screws. Each of the screws extends in the respective tracks and the threads A|2| thereon are threadedly engaged with internal threads |22 in the nuts |23 slidablyr` mounted in the respective tracks. Pipe carriages or bucks |24 of; ex-

actly the same construction as the bucks 51-and 58 are `pivotally mounted ori the respective nuts |23Vby meansv lof cap-screws- |25 extendingl through'apertures in footplates |26Y in the re spectivebucks and threadedly engaged in thread,

edl recessesy in .the respectivek nuts` |23, the pivotal movements of the respective bucks being limited by means of cap-screwsl21 extendingthroughqslots- |28 in the vplates |26 and thread-v edly engaged in threaded recesses |29, the plate 21being slotted overthe-,normal path o f the screws |24and-|21 as at |30 to permit the nut and bucks to move transversely ofthe machine.

y Secured to the carriages or bucks |24 are pipen ticular instance illustrated plovideea variation in the leads of the threadson the respective screws whereby the ratio of-the rotational speed of thel individual screws to the linear speed of the respective bucks willincrease as the screws are spaced from the center towardthe ends of the machine. 4In the present instance Ivprefer that the screw 90 have a ratio of 3 threads to 1 inch, the screws 89 and 9| a ratio of 3.2 threads to l inch, the screws 88 and 92 a ratio of 4 threads to 1 inch, and the screws 81 and 93 a ratio of 6.85 threads to 1 inch. These are approximate iigures and of course will vary with the spacing of the individual bucks. While I prefer to provide for the variation in linear travel of the individual bucks by using screws of different lead, it is believed obvious that a similar result could be obtained by changing the ratio of the gears in the respective gear reduction units.

In order to assist in placing a pipe to be bent on the apparatus, I preferably provide extensions |33 on the sills 2 and 3 extending outwardly at each end of the apparatus and provide bearings |34 for rotatably supporting rollers |35 at the ends of the machine, the top of said rollers being substantially on the same level as the upper face |36 of the horizontal portion of the pipe engaging cradles 1| and |3|.

The operation of a pipe bending apparatus constructed as described is as follows:

The pipe bending machine is moved in the eld adjacent a point of use of the pipe and when pipe curves are needed to conform to the contour of the earth, the section of the pipe to be bent is placed on the apparatus, the ends thereof being supported by means of the rollers |35. The bucks |24 are all moved toward the housing 29 until the pipe engaging faces |32 of the respective bucks are in alignment. The pipe 10 is then arranged so one side thereof is engaged by the respective bucks |24 and the handwheels y49 and 50 are -rotatedto move the .bucksA Y 51-and 58 into engagement -with the'oppositev sides of said pipe. The prime mover; ||6 is thenoperated to transmit rotary motion to thecounf ter-shaft |l4 to drive the respective chains` ||2. stub-shafts ||I, .sprockets |06 and |01, stubshafts |04, sprockets |02 and |03, chains 90v and* 9,9, sprockets |00 and |0|, to the worm drive shaftsl 96 of the respective gear reduction 95, which simultaneously rotate the screws, |31,

and 93 at lthe same rotational speed. Due to the ratio of the leads'of the respective screws 81'fto- 93, the bucks |24 are moved laterally of the apparatus to bend the portion of the pipe between, the bucks 51 and 58, each of the bucks pivotingv relative to the nuts 54 andIZB-to-maintain en gagement of the pipe perpendicular tothe tangent of the curve at the respective points of con tact.;V o f Y. i The curves placed in the pipes are measuredby a-scale- |31 mounted on the plate 2-1-adJa-;, cent the vbuck |2l|l moved` bythe screw 90, saidl scale |31 preferably being graduated to indicateY the degrees of the external angle formed by the.- tangentsv to the curve of thepipe.l When the; curvature is placed in the. pipe the prime'moveris reversed to reverse the screws 81 to=r93-inV elusive to withdraw the respectives bucks from.

engagement with the pipe, vand the hand-wheels 49 and 50 rotated to back the bucks E1-and` 58a whereby the pipe may be picked up and removed from the apparatus.A With this arrangement'the bucks engage the pipe at relatively small spacingv to exert an even-force fthereon and eliminate; buckling of the pipe whichis common in thin. wall structures such as are used in cross-country pipelines whereby a correct curvaturefmaybe': imparted tothe pipe without anyobstructions.

or deformation thereof.

From the foregoing it is believed obvious that; Ihave provided a pipe bending machine capable; of bending` pipe sections in predetermined geo-A metric curves wherein pipes of different diameters may be eiciently and accurately bentto conform to the contour of the earth where the pipes are to be laid.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pipe bending machine, a frame adapted to receive a pipe to be bent, a plurality of guides arranged transversely of said frame, pipe engaging bucks movably mounted in the respective Y guides, the end bucks facing inthe opposite direction of the intermediate bucks, means for adjusting the end bucks to effect engagement of all the bucks with the pipe, screws in the respective intermediate guides for moving the respective bucks, each of the screws located toward the center of the frame having longer lead than the adjacent outer screw whereby the center buck moves relatively faster than the outer bucks, and means for simultaneously rotating said screws in the intermediate guides for moving the respective bucks toward the pipe to bend said pipe.

2. In a pipe -bending machine, a frame adapted to receive a pipe to be bent, a plurality of guides arranged transversely on said frame, Ipipe engaging bucks movably mounted in the respective guides, the end bucks facing in the opposite direction of the intermediate bucks, means for adjucting the end bucks to effect engagement of all the bucks with the pipe, screws in the respective intermediate guides for moving the respective alice; i's

e 'er the fifamefhaving longer lead than-'thev alclj'av youter screw whereby tnecenterbuck movesH rela-tivelyA faster ythan l the nouter bucks, a

drivingrx-ieamsgi `and yspeedY 'reducer-vs operatively Y connecting the drivingfmeanswith the respective screws -'or simultaneously Vrotating said screwsin the intermediate guidesfa-t the vsainev rotational I'speed for movin-'gltlie respective bucks toward thefpipeg at difI-erentspeed ratios for bending said pipein a'jcurlvegv` 5 u 3. 4 I Ta pipe bend-ing" macninea fra-me, al' plu-- rality bf'fgluidesarranged transverselyY on Vsaid frame? foncvjversmonnted in the respective guides Y an' movable transverselyon the frame, carriages f pivo f ly mounted enti-1e followers, screws in the'guidesliavingengagemerit VYWith the respec` tive: followers-fer movi-ng same, said screws having different? leads, Vpipe Aengaging bucks' adjacent the ends of the frame for engaging one'sideoff the, pipe-c be bent, pipe .engaging vbacksea-the carriages and (movable therewith for engaging Y the opposite side of the pipe intermediateiof ther'st named bucks, and means-for Simultaneously rotatngi'tlfie screwsulin the `respective guides;- for movingthe followers and 4bucks thereontoward theV pir-peffor bending saidA pipe, said Vcarriages pivoting aon the followers to maintain the' force Vextended thereby'at'r'ig-htangles to the pipe.

a n a pipe 'bending machine, .a frame adapted tol/receive'V a pip'e to bebent, pipe engaging 'bucks montedi on' the frame for movement transversely thereof', the end bucks facing in the opposite direction? of the intermediate' bucks,V means for adjustingtne' end bucks to eiect'engagement of` azll'l'the Abucksvviilfl the pipe, screws" in" the frame andhavingV engagement into the respective .inY` termedatelbiicks for moving said-bucks, eacn of thers'crewsloca'ted toward tHeIcenter cfftloe fran-1e having longer lead thanvithe adjacent screw wherebytlie center buck moves 'relatively faster thantne fcnter' bucks, and means for moving tne the A.pipe to bend same Y respective bucks -toward inulvfe; V i

5A. r In a pipebendinemachinaf 9J frame adapted' Yto receive a pipe to be bent; aplurality of :spaced radjzwent lbuck whereby the center buck"V moves relatively vfaster than the outer bucks; vthe moving speedV oi `eachinternried-iateV buck being of 'predetermined' ratio'r relative l'tothe other bucks, i

andvmeans for simultaneously operating4 said `buck moving means for moving all; of theintere mediate bucks toward the pipeV to ebend vsame in aV curveibetween theend bucks, said-curve being spective intermediate bucks. 1 l

`6. a pipe bending machine, avfreme'adapted determined by thev relative speed ratios et the ree;

Y to receive a pipe to be bent`,a plurality 'of spaced adjustable `pipe engaging bucksI mounted on `the frame for movement transversely thereof, theV end bucks adapted to engage one side of the pipe andthe intermediate bucks the other side, means for adjusting the end bucks to effect engagement of all the bucks With- Vthe pipeY before bending, means for moving said intermediate bucks toward the pipe, each of said moving means 1o Y cated toward the centerV of the frazfn'e"movingV the respective lbucks faster than the next outer adjacent buck whereby the center buck moves relatively faster than the outer bucks, adriving means,V and speed reducers operatively connect;` ing the drivingmeans with the respective buckV moving-means forV simultaneously operating said moving means to moveftlie respective.interino-fr diate bucks toward the pipe to bend same in al curve Abetween the end bucks, saidcurve being determined by the relativev speed vofV the respecti-v'e intermedia-te bucks.

' ARTHUR H. ZEI'IlZ.V 

